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Michelle Coon has her Bachelor of Music from Queen’s University with a double major in Music History and Performance. She studied with Donelda Gartshore. Her studio of beginner to advanced students keeps her busy and enthused. She has 29 years of experience teaching all ages and levels of flute and theory.  

Michelle is an RCM Certified Teacher (Flute and Theory specialist beginner to advanced levels) In addition she is qualified to teach with the Suzuki Method. She was impressed with the method and ideology of Suzuki after her daughter began Suzuki Cello lessons some years ago. She felt that it fit very closely to what she was already doing. She took Suzuki training at the Great Lakes Institute in Hamilton.

She is the flute instructor of the Oakville Suzuki Association (OSA) and has built the flute program there. Michelle started the Oakville Suzuki Flute Orchestra(OSFO) in 2004  which is an ensemble for her senior students that include the use of the Bass and Alto flutes (lower in pitch than the regular concert flute) and the piccolo.

 

Michelle has many students who wish to do the RCM exams. Indeed, two of her students have won RCM Silver medals. She believes in tailoring the lessons to suit each childs needs as everyone is different! Her students often play in Festivals and Competitions with several students also competing  the Provincial level music festival. Her students have won the Young Artist and the Hollier award offered by the Oakville Symphony Orchestra. Many students have won school music awards, played in youth orchestras, and gone on to music in University, both undergrad and  at the Masters level.

 

Michelle teaches Theory, History and Harmony based on the RCM curriculum. She teaches these subjects to both her own students as well as other teachers students who are referred to her as not all music teachers teach theory subjects. She has written a book called "Theory in a Nutshell" which is geared towards adults and/or parents of children who have little or no knowledge of theory.

Michelle is passionate about Chamber Music and loves playing in chamber ensembles. She has performed in and around the Oakville area and is looking forward to doing more performing now her children are grown up. Michelle just recently moved to the west end of Toronto, specifically Weston, and is establishing a studio there as well as maintaining her students in Oakville.

© 2016  Michelle Coon

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